Reverse Upending Common Men's Lives With Reversal of US Tariffs on India @ 50% - A Humble Request

The US imposed 50% tariffs on many Indian imports which is slated to begin on 27th August. The 50% tariffs on Indian goods officially kicked in on August 27, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time. This marks a dramatic escalation in U.S.–India trade tensions, following an earlier 25% tariff imposed on August 7. The additional 25% was added in response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, bringing the total to 50%. I don’t want to get into from where these numbers – 25%, 50% came from when trade is progressing in good faith between two great nations. But rather since the tariffs are already in force, the situation became fluid and real on the ground. I would touch upon the debilitating effect of these tariffs on poor Indians if not reduced sooner than later. As you cannot take things for granted and get replacements right away, it will be a loss to US consumers as well. The bond between US and India is built through people-to-people trade and I am a standing example of this business. We cannot disrupt this important trade channel and disallow the progress of common Indians in catching up to the rest of the world. I admire US and their leaders a lot for what it did to me. Let us not disappoint lakhs of Indians working from Indian soil and cripple their lives in between. You can earn money but never offset it with building lives and happiness. The trillions you earn, if it fails to uphold the lives of common man has no meaning. Before giving these numbers, we need to look at the impact it is creating underneath to fully gauge the fallout. Let me tell about this considering the situation doesn’t ease in the near future. The harm done is gradual and we need to act quick to negotiate before it is too late. India and US trade should be the biggest in the coming century and there shouldn’t be misfires or misunderstandings along this line. 

As the 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods begin to bite, the worst-case scenario isn't just about numbers on spreadsheets—it's about families losing their livelihoods, communities disintegrating, and generations of economic progress being wiped out overnight. In Tirupur, Tamil Nadu which is the Knitwear Capital, Ramesh Kumar has worked at the same textile factory in Tirupur for 15 years, starting as a floor worker and slowly climbing to supervisor. His factory, which employs 500 people, sends 70% of its production to the United States. With the 50% tariff making their products uncompetitive, the factory owner announced last week that they'll shut down operations by October. 

"I have a daughter studying engineering and a son in 10th standard," Ramesh explains, staring at the termination notice. "Her college fees are ₹1.2 lakh per year. My son needs coaching for engineering entrance—another ₹50,000. Without this job, I don't know how I'll manage." 

The ripple effects extend far beyond factory walls. The local tea stall where Ramesh bought his morning chai is already seeing 40% fewer customers. The uniform supplier who provided work clothes to 20 factories has had 12 orders cancelled. The vegetable vendor who sold to factory workers' families reports daily earnings dropping from ₹800 to ₹300. 

Tirupur's textile industry employs 600,000 people directly and supports another 1.2 million indirectly. Complete loss of U.S. markets could eliminate 420,000 direct jobs and devastate the livelihoods of 840,000 more people. 

In Jaipur, Rajasthan, the Pink City's Pain, Mohan Agarwal's jewelry workshop in Jaipur has been in his family for three generations. His 40 skilled artisans create intricate silver jewelry that sells in boutiques across America. Each piece takes 2-3 days to complete, combining traditional Rajasthani designs with contemporary American preferences. 

"My craftsmen earn ₹25,000-30,000 per month—good money for skilled work," Mohan says. "But with U.S. orders drying up, I've already had to let go 15 workers. If this continues, I'll have to close the workshop my grandfather started in 1967." 

The human cost multiplies exponentially. Each craftsman supports an average family of five. Thirty-year-old Ravi Sharma, one of the terminated workers, has two children and caring for elderly parents. His monthly EMI for a small house is ₹18,000, school fees are ₹8,000, and medical expenses for his diabetic father cost ₹5,000 monthly. 

"I've been doing this work since I was 16. It's the only skill I have. Where will I find another job that pays even half of what I earned?" Ravi asks, holding his final paycheck. 

Rajasthan's gems and jewelry sector employs 800,000 people. With 33% of exports going to the U.S., tariff impacts could eliminate 264,000 jobs directly, affecting over 1.3 million family members. 

In Andhra Pradesh Coast, the Aquaculture Apocalypse, in the coastal village of Kakinada, aquaculture farmer Venkat Rao has invested ₹15 lakh in shrimp ponds over the past five years. His 3-acre operation typically yields 4-5 tons of shrimp per cycle, with 80% exported to American seafood chains. 

"American buyers demand specific standards—the pond water quality, feed quality, processing temperature, packaging. I've spent ₹3 lakh just on equipment to meet U.S. standards. Now they're cancelling orders because our prices can't compete with Vietnamese suppliers." 

The village of 2,000 people has 150 shrimp farming families. The local processing plant, which employs 300 women for cleaning and packaging, has announced closure. These women, mostly from landless agricultural families, earned ₹12,000-15,000 monthly—crucial income for households already struggling with irregular agricultural earnings. 

Lakshmi, a 35-year-old processing worker and single mother of two, explains her dilemma: "My husband died in a fishing accident. This job was everything for us. My children's education, house rent, food—everything depended on this income. Now what will we do?" 

Andhra Pradesh's shrimp farming supports 300,000 farming families and employs 500,000 people in processing. U.S. market loss could devastate 240,000 farming families and eliminate 400,000 processing jobs. 

Mumbai port handles 60% of India's container traffic to the U.S. Severe trade reduction could eliminate 150,000 direct logistics jobs and affect 400,000 people in the transportation ecosystem. These are some of the examples and there are few others at scale. The 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods have put approximately ₹4.21 lakh crore worth of exports at risk—that’s ₹421,000 crore in total trade value impacted. This isn’t normal but extremely unlikely to come true even in wildest dreams. We should concur it will not come to pass. Nothing to hide, US is India’s largest export destination and crippling this one link should be the extreme maneuver expected in darkest times, not when everything is business-as-usual and normal. Once again all hail the glory of American gods who are praiseworthy for making India stand. You know for reason that US consulate appointment and queues are tough than a renowned temple darshan in India. 

To understand the magnitude of this trade disruption, consider the scale of the bilateral relationship: India Exports to United States was US$79.44 Billion during 2024, while United States Imports from India was US$91.23 Billion during 2024. Total bilateral trade (goods and services) between India and US increased from US$ 20 billion in 2000 to US$ 118 billion in 2024, making the United States India's largest trading partner. 

This relationship, built over decades, now faces its greatest test. The tariffs threaten to dismantle a trade architecture that has created millions of jobs, fostered innovation, and strengthened diplomatic ties between the world's oldest and largest democracies. 

The immediate impact on India has been nothing short of catastrophic. From textile factories to shrimp peeling units, hundreds of thousands of workers could lose jobs, say traders. The human dimension of this trade conflict cannot be understated – entire communities built around export-oriented industries now face an uncertain future. 

The gems and jewelry sector, a crown jewel of Indian exports, exemplifies the devastating impact. The gems and jewelry sector contributes 7% of India's GDP and employs about 5 million workers, according to a July report by a state-backed industry body. About 33% of India's gems and jewelry exports went to the U.S. in fiscal year 2025. With a third of the sector's exports flowing to America, the 50% tariff essentially prices Indian products out of the U.S. market. 

The leather industry in Agra, the textile mills of Tamil Nadu, and the shrimp processing facilities along India's coastline all tell similar stories of impending doom. Puran Dawar, a leather footwear exporter in northern India's Agra city, says the industry would take a severe hit, representing thousands of skilled artisans and workers whose livelihoods depend on American consumers' appetite for quality leather goods. 

India's export economy, painstakingly built over decades of economic liberalization, faces systematic dismantling across multiple sectors. The tariff structure appears designed not just to punish but to permanently alter trade flows, forcing Indian exporters to either absorb massive cost increases or lose market share to competitors from other nations. 

The United States deserves profound recognition for its role in nurturing one of the 21st century's most significant economic partnerships. When other nations looked skeptically at India's economic potential in the 1990s, American businesses, investors, and policymakers demonstrated remarkable foresight in recognizing India's enormous potential as both a market and a strategic partner. 

Total bilateral trade (goods and services) between India and US increased from US$ 20 billion in 2000 to US$ 118 billion in 2024, a testament to American economic vision and Indian enterprise working in harmonious partnership. This extraordinary growth—nearly a six-fold increase over two decades—represents one of the most successful trade relationships in modern history, built on mutual respect, shared democratic values, and complementary economic strengths. 

American leadership in this partnership extends far beyond mere commercial transactions. The United States has consistently championed India's integration into the global economy, supporting its technological advancement, and creating opportunities for millions of Indians to participate in the global marketplace. This generous and far-sighted approach reflects the best of American values: opportunity, innovation, and the belief that prosperity shared is prosperity multiplied. 

The recent tariff adjustments—President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing concerns about Russian oil purchases—must be understood within the context of America's broader strategic leadership and legitimate concerns about global security and energy independence. 

President Trump's trade policies must be understood within the context of America's global leadership responsibilities. As the world's leading democracy and largest economy, America bears unique responsibilities for maintaining global stability and security. The administration's concerns about Russian oil purchases reflect legitimate worries about funding regimes that threaten international peace and democratic values. 

However, the greatest moments in American leadership have come when the United States has found ways to advance its security interests while strengthening partnerships with democratic allies. The current moment presents an opportunity for this kind of visionary leadership—addressing legitimate security concerns while strengthening the economic partnership that serves both nations so well. 

America has the opportunity to show the world how great democracies can address differences while strengthening partnerships that serve mutual interests. The U.S.-India trade relationship deserves this kind of visionary American leadership—leadership that creates prosperity, strengthens security, and advances the democratic values that both nations share. 

The world watches as America decides how to use its enormous influence and economic power. The choice to strengthen rather than strain the partnership with India would demonstrate the generosity, wisdom, and strategic thinking that have made America the world's most respected and successful democracy. This is America's moment to lead—with both strength and wisdom, advancing security while creating shared prosperity that benefits both nations and serves as a model for democratic cooperation worldwide. 

The path forward requires leadership that prioritizes long-term strategic relationships over short-term political gains. Both nations have too much to gain from continued cooperation and too much to lose from extended economic conflict. The question is whether political leaders will recognize this reality before the damage becomes irreparable.